For More Information:
Get the Facts on:
Modern No-Stitch Cataract Surgery
Multifocal and Toric lens implants for Cataract Surgery
Children’s Eye Care and Strabismus Surgery
How to help your child wear an eye patch to treat amblyopia
Glaucoma Diagnosis and Treatment
COSMETIC & FUNCTIONAL EYELID PLASTIC SURGERY
Eyelid Surgery
Dr. Patrick Costello spends a large portion of his practice time on the surgical care of eyelids. The only plastic surgery Dr. Costello performs is on the skin and muscles of the eyelids, eyebrows, and the other local tissues. Patients should know that he works only on this highly specialized type of skin surgery and this is what separates the ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon from a universal plastic surgeon.
Dr. Costello performs both cosmetic and functional eyelid surgery.
Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery is the most popular form of cosmetic surgery in the United States. Last year over 230,000 patients underwent blepharoplasty. This may be because an eyelid lift is less invasive and allows a faster recovery than most other facial plastic lifts. Pain in this procedure is typically minimal in comparison to a face lift and the highlighting of brighter eyes can give patients a more youthful, alert appearance and draw attention away from other sags or wrinkles around the face.
Functional Eyelid Surgery
Droopy eyelids can get in the way of a patients vision and when this occurs, repair of the droop is considered functional instead of cosmetic. Other indications are the sagging of lower eyelids causing dry, red irritated eyes, or lashes rubbing against the cornea. Often tearing and eye pain are signs of eyelids disease. Tumors around the eyes require special types of removal and closure to give the eyelids their normal appearance and this often requires an oculoplastic surgeon.
BOTOX Cosmetic
Consultation for BOTOX is free at Costello Eye Physicians & Surgeons. Botox is a medication that can be used for aesthetic or cosmetic purposes. The medicine is injected around the eyelids, eyebrows, nose, lip creases, and forehead to relax the muscles which cause wrinkles in these areas. Effects of this medication typically last up to four months.
After Botox injections, avoid exercise for a few hours. Scowl in the mirror or in your car or whenever you think of it the first day or so. This is thought to aid in dispersing the medication through the muscle fibers. Dr. Costello likes to see patients about 2 weeks after the injections to make sure they are doing well and satisfied with the treatments.
What to expect after eyelid surgery
All patients will have some degree of swelling and bruising around the eyes after eyelid surgery. Vision can be blurry and the eyes often feel dry and sometimes scratchy for a few days. Most patients report a mild aching around the forehead which is typically relieved with Tylenol and cold compresses.
Swelling peaks the morning after surgery and ice is important for the
entire day after surgery. A good bench mark is cool compresses 10
minutes out of every waking hour for the first 24 hours, then every few
hours for the second day. Some puffiness or pinkness around the
lids can sometimes persist for weeks or even for a few months.
Most patients experience moderate bruising that fades within 7-10 days. Normal
day to day activities may be resumed within two days. Strenuous
activity and exercise should be avoided for at least one week until seen
again by Dr. Costello and residual suture material is removed.
Most patients prefer to ‘lay low’ for about 7-10 days.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RESOURCES:
GLAUCOMA and GLAUCOMA RESEARCH
LaserView of CNY (LASIK Center for our doctors)
LASIK and REFRACTIVE SURGERY (FDA page)